Reversing toy trolley car



April 22, 1952 E. 'r. VAN SCIVER 2,593,941

REVERSING TOY TROLLEY CAR Filed July 1, 1950 INVENTOR. [ar/ T VazzfC/rerQifofweV Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BachmanBros.,

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a toy that simulates a trolley car andis concerned primarily with such a toy that is self-powered.

At the present time there are various toys that are driven by electricmotors. A good example of such toys is the well-known electric train.However, in toys of this type the power is derived from the track onwhich the toy operates. The present invention proposes to depart fromthis practice by providing a toy which includes as an essential elementa small dry cell which affords the necessary motive power.

An important object of the invention is to provide a toy trolley of thetype indicated in which the dry cell is removably positioned in thetrolley car. Such an arrangement permits of ready replacement after thedry cell is run down.

Another highly important object of the invention is to provide a toytrolley car of the type indicated which is automatically reversible uponengaging some fixed object. Thus, the toy may be placed on a flatsurface and started in operation. Upon hitting any fixed object it willautomatically reverse itself and run in the opposite direction until ithits another fixed object. It will run back and forth between these twofixed objects as long as the operator desires.

In carrying out this idea the toy trolley car is provided with a mainframe which supports the wheels, the motor that drives the wheels, andthe dry cell. The motor includes an armature having a pair of terminals.A U-shaped conductor strip is interposed between'the dry cell and themotor. A pair of contacts are carried at the free ends of the U-shapedstrip and arranged so that the grounding of one armature terminal andthe connection of the other with a contact on the U-shaped strip willcause current to flow through the armature in one direction, while thegrounding of the other armature terminal and the connection of theremaining terminal to the U-shaped strip contact associated therewithwill cause current to pass through the armature in the oppositedirection.

A contact actuator is slidably mounted on the main frame and has endportions projecting beyond both ends of the main frame. This actuator isprovided with a pair of cams, each of which is adapted to engage one ofthe armature terminals aforesaid and ground that terminal, at the sametime breaking the connection of that terminal with the contactassociated therewith.

The actuator projects well beyond the superstructure which may bemounted on the frame so that definite assurance may be had that it willInc.,

strike against a fixed object which may be in the path of the toy inadvance of any other part of the car.

Various other more detailed objects and ad.- vantages of the inventionsuch as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in apractical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part behereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises a toy trolley car which includes anelectric motor for driving the wheels thereof, which electric motor ispowered by a dry cell. Means are included for automatically reversingthe direction of the drive of the motor upon the car encountering afixed object.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following description and accompanying drawingwherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the main body of the toy trolleycar that is designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention,with the superstructure shown in phantom outline;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the dry cell removed;

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation with the parts broken away and shownin section;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the contact actuatorlocked against sliding movement; and

Figure 6 is a detailed section taken about on the plane represented bythe lines 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts, the trolley car of this invention is shownas comprising a main body or platform ID having depending side flanges II, with each end of each flange I I carrying an inwardly turned tab I2.This platform Ill is of metal having good conducting properties and maybe considered as the ground of the motor circuit to be later described.The flanges I I include central enlarged portions i3 which are formedwith two pairs of aligned openings which receive axles l4 and I5. Wheelsshown at It are mounted on the axle I5, while driving wheels II arekeyed to the axle I4. Also keyed to the axle I4 is a transmission memberin the form of a rubber disk I8. This disk l8 bears against one of thedriving wheels I l as shown in Figure 4 and a thrust bearing 30 isinterposed a between this wheel I! and the enlarged portion i3 of theflange I I on that side.

motor I9 is a direct current Supported on the platform i substantiallydirectly above the axle Hi is an electric motor l9 having a drive shaft2a. This drive shaft 29 extends downwardly through an opening in theplatform It and its lower end engages one face of the rubbertransmission member it. This engagement is created by a force normal tothe axis of the shaft 22 and which force is resisted by the thrustbearing 80. Obviously, the rotation of the drive shaft 29 will rotatethe rubber member l8 and thus wheels l1.

Enclosing the electric motor 29 is a U-shaped piece of copper sheetmetal designated 2! which conducts current from the dry cell (to belater described) to the motor. This member 2| .is formed with twodownwardly extending arms 22 and 23, each of which has a turned in endflange providing contacts 29 and 29 such as shown in Figure 6.

Upstanding from one end of the platform I0 is a vertical support 26. Thesupport 26 has side flanges 21 which support the motor i9. The motor ofa well known type having a field provided by a permanent magnet and anarmature. This armature has a pair of terminals shown at 24 and 25.These armature terminals 29 and 25 overlie the contacts 28 and 29 withwhich they are adapted to engage. Either one of them may be pressed outof this engagement by an arrangement to be later described.

Upstanding from the other end of the platform I9 is a spring clip 3!.Between the spring clip 3| and the U-shaped member 2| the platform I0 isformed with a depression 32 which is curved to conform to the contour ofthe dry cell shown at 33. This dry cell 33 has an electrode 34 at oneend thereof, with the other electrode taking the form of the casing asindicated at 35. The electrode 35 engages the spring clip 3| and is thusgrounded to the platform ill. The electrode 34 engages the bend of theU- shaped member 2i and current passes through one side or the other ofthis U-shaped member, depending on which of the contacts, 28 or 29, isin engagement with its complemental armature terminal, 24 or 25.

A contact actuator is designated 36 and takes the form of a slide whichunderface of the platform It and is retained in its sliding positionrelative thereto by the inturned tabs l2. The actuator 36 is inconductive engagement with the platform It and hence is grounded. Thisactuator 36 projects well beyond each end of the platform It! and hasdownturned end flanges 3i. Struck from the actuator 36 are a pair oftongues 38 and 39. These tongues 38 and 39 are adapted to function ascams with respect to the contacts 24 and 25. Thus, whenthe slide 36 isactuated to cause the tongue 38 to engage the underface of the armatureterminal 24, the camming action lifts the free end of the termina1 24from the contact 28 to break the circuit to the armature terminal 24 atthat point, and ground the armature terminal 24. At the same time,however, the tongue 39 will be removed from beneath the armatureterminal 25 to permit the latter to come into engagement with thecontact 29. Thus the direction of current through the armature of themotor I9 is controlled by which of the terminals 29 or 25 is inengagement with one of the contacts 28 or 29 and which is grounded. Thedirection is positioned on the the axle l4 and driving of currentthrough the armature determines the direction of rotation of the motorshaft 20.

It is desirable to provide means for locking the actuator 36 in aneutral position relative to the platform iii. That is, it must belocked in a position in which the circuit through both of the armatureterminals 24 and 25 is broken. To this end a spring keeper 49 has itsupper end received between a pair of metallic loops 4| which are struckfrom the vertical support 26. This keeper 4-9 extends down through anopening shown at 42 in the actuator 36 and its lower end is formed witha manipulating loop 43. This opening 42 is formed with a notch at 44which is adapted to snugly receive the keeper 49 immediately abovetheloop 43. When the keeper is so received in the notch 44, the actuator 36is held against sliding movement relative to the platform Iii.

Obviously the platform [9 may carry any superstructure which is desiredfor appearance efiects. Thus, the superstructure may be made to simulatea trolley car which is depicted in the phantom outline in Figure 1.Other representations of moving vehicles could also be carried by theplatform i9.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth,it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limitedto the exact constructions, mechanisms and devices illustrated anddescribed, because various modifications of these details may beprovided in putting the invention into practice within the purview ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform. wheels supporting saidplatform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstandingfrom one end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip on saidplatform adjacent to the other end and in insulated relation withrespect thereto, said U-shaped strip being arranged with its bendconfronting said clip, a dry cell detachably po- 1 sitioned between saidclip and U-shaped strip and having an electrode engaging said U-shapedstrip, the other electrode of said dry cell engaging said clip, anelectric motor within said U- shaped strip having an armature with apair of terminals, each of said terminals being adapted to be connectedto one end of said U-shaped strip while the other terminal is groundedto said platform, a vertical drive shaft included as a part of saidmotor, and means for operatively connecting the lower end of said driveshaft to said driving wheels.

2. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting saidplatform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstandingfrom one end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip on saidplatform adjacent to the other end and in insulated relation withrespect thereto, said U-shaped strip being arranged with its bendconfronting said clip, a dry cell detachably positioned between saidclip and U-shaped strip and having an electrode engaging said U-shapedstrip, the other electrode of said dry cell engaging said clip, anelectric motor within said U- shaped strip and having an armature with apair of terminals, each of said terminals being adapted to be connectedto one end of said U-shaped strip while the other terminal is groundedto said platform, a vertical drive shaft included as a part of saidmotor, means for operatively connecting the lower end of said driveshaft to said driving wheels, a pair of contacts carried at the free endof said U-shaped strip, means adapted to connect either of said contactswith one of said armature terminals, a contact actuator slidably mountedon said platform and extending from opposite ends thereof, and a pair ofcam elements carried by said contact actuator, each of which is adaptedto engage one of said armature terminals to break the electricalconnection thereat.

3. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting saidplatform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstandingfrom one end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip on saidplatform adjacent to the other end and in insulated relation withrespect thereto, said U-shaped strip being arranged with its bendconfronting said clip, a dry cell detachably positioned between saidclip and U-shap-ed strip and having an electrode engaging said U-shapedstrip, the other electrode of said dry cell engaging said clip, anelectric motor within said U-shaped strip and having an armature with apair of terminals, a vertical drive shaft included as a part of saidmotor, means for operatively connecting the lower end of said driveshaft to said driving wheels, a pair of contacts carried at the free endof said U-shaped strip, means adapted to connect either of said contactswith one of said armature terminals, a contact actuator slidably mountedon said platform and extending from o-pvsite ends thereof, a pair of camelements carried by said contact actuator, each of which is adapted toengage one of said armature terminals to break the electrical connectionthereat, and means to locl: said sliding actuator in a fixed positionrelative to said platform and in which position neither of said contactsengages the armature terminal associated therewith.

4. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, Wheels supporting saidplatform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstandingfrom one end of said platform, a vertical support upstanding from theother end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip carried by saidsupport in insulated relation with respect to said platform and having abend confronting said clip, said platform being formed with a depressionbetween said clip and U-shaped stri a cylindrically shaped dry cellresting in said depression and detachably held by said clip and strip,said dry cell having a casing conductively engaging said clip and anelectrode conductively engaging said strip, a reversible motor withinsaid strip and having a vertically arranged drive shaft, and means foroperatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said drivingwheels.

5. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting saidplatform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstandingfrom one end of said platform, a vertical support upstanding from theother end of said platform, a U-shaped metallic strip carried by saidsupport in insulated relation with respect to said platform and having abend confronting said clip, said platform being formed with a depressionbetween said clip and U-shaped strip, a cylindrically shaped dry cellresting in said depression and detachably held by said clip and strip,said dry cell having a casing conductively engaging said clip and anelectrode conductively engaging said strip, a reversible motor withinsaid strip and having a vertically arranged drive shaft, means foroperatively connecting the lower end of said drive shaft to said drivingwheels, and means for automatically causing current from said dry cellto pass through one side or the other of said strip and thereby reversethe flow of current through said motor, said means including an abutmentmember projecting beyond opposite ends of said platform and slidablerelative thereto, said abutment member being adapted to engage a fixedobject to reverse the direction of said current through said motor.

6. In a toy trolley car, a metallic platform, wheels supporting saidplatform including a pair of driving wheels, a metallic clip upstandingfrom one end of said platform, a vertical support upstanding from theother end of said platform, a U -shaped metallic strip carried by saidsupport in insulated relation with respect to said platform and having abend confronting said clip, said platform being formed with a depressionbetween said clip and U-shaped strip, a cylindrically shaped dry cellresting in said depression and detachably held by said clip and strip,said dry cell having a casing conductively engaging said clip and anelectrode conductively engaging said strip, a reversible motor withinsaid strip having an armature with a pair of terminals and having avertically arranged drive shaft, means for operatively connecting thelower end of said drive shaft to said driving wheels, a contact actuatorslidably carried by said platform and projecting beyond the oppositeends thereof, a pair of contacts on the free ends of said U-shapedstrip, each of which is adapted for engagement with one of said armatureterminals, a pair of cam elements carried by said actuator and adaptedto engage said armature terminals to cause one or the other of them tobreak the circuit through the armature of the motor, and locking meanscarried by said vertical support for locking said actuator in a fixedposition relative to said platform.

7. In a toy trolley car, a platform, a horizontally arranged U-shapedstrip carried by said platform and having two sides joined by a bend, anelectric motor within said strip having a vertically arranged driveshaft and an armature, a dry cell on said platform having an electrodeengaging said strip at the bend thereof, and means for causing electriccurrent to pass from said dry cell from said bend through one side orthe other of said U-shaped strip to said armature.

EARL T. VAN SCIVER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,126,608 Woodruif Jan. 26, 19151,490,125 OLeary Apr. 15, 1924 1,887,823 Smith Nov. 15, 1932 2,179,913Bess Nov. 14, 1939

